Means for gripping and lifting strip material



April 8y 1947. 1 BRESLAV 2,418,692

MEANS FOR GRIPPING AND LIFTING STRIP MATERIAL Filed Ocfc. 18, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet, 1

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ATTORNEY April 8, 1947. J. BREsLAv MEANS FOR GRIPPING lAND LIFTING STRIP MATERIAL Filed Oct. 18, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR. l JckBresZv.

ATTKNEY J.' BRESLAV -April s, 1947.

MEANS FOR GRIPPING'ND LIFTING STRIP MATERIAL Filed oct. 18, 1944 s sneets-fsheet 3 INVENTOR. Jack Bres la zr.

am/JM ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 8, 1947 MEAN S FOR GRIPPING AND LIFTING STRIP MATERIAL .lack Ereslav, New Haven, Conn.

Application October 18, 1944, Serial No. 559,320

7 Claims.

This invention relates to means for grippingly engaging and lifting relatively thin and long strips of material, such as metal, from supports, such as conveyors, or from piles of such strips of material wherein the strips are resting directly one upon the other. More particularly the features and principles of this invention are adapted for use in combination with annealing or other heat treating furnaces wherefrom or Whereto said strips are fed and due to their physical characteristics may be distorted t some ex'- tent either lengthwise or crosswise.

With particular reference to metal strips it is well known that due to the eiiects of the heating thereof in furnaces and also after rolling the same between pressure rollers internal strains are released or set up in the `structure of the strips which cause distortion of the same. Such distortions often take the form of irregular waves, which may extend either lengthwise or crosswise of the strips. Being relatively thin such strips are, to some extent, flexible and, unless carefully gripped, will bend if not engaged at properly spaced apart points along their length.

Another object of this invention is to provide new and useful means for gripping and lifting relatively long thin strips of material and particularly strips which have become distorted as above referred to.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a strip engaging and lifting mechanism which is adapted to use in lifting distorted strips relatively short in length and wherein provision is made to adjust the same for strip-s of diiferent thickness;

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved means for gripping and lifting strips of material which Iwill be relatively simple in construction, inexpensive to manufacture, readily manipulated, compact, and very eii'icient and durable in use.

With these and other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, there has been illustrated in the accompanying drawings a form in which the features and principles of this invention may be embodied in practice, it being understood that Various changes may be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side View of a strip gripping and lifting mechanism wherein the features and principles of this invention are embodied;

Figure 2 is an end view of the mechanism shown in Figure l;

Figure 3 is an enlarged side view of a strip engaging and carrying device embodying certain feature-s of this invention and which is included in the mechanism shown in Figures l and 2;

Figure 4 is an end view of the device shown in Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a sketch showing the application of the mechanism of this invention to a strip distorted lengthwise;

Figure 6 is a sketch showing the application of the mechanism of this invention to a strip distorted crosswise; and

Figure 7 is a sketch showing the use of the device shown in Figures 3 and 4 for gripping an lifting relatively short thin strips.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference characters designate like parts throughout the Iseveral views, the reference numeral Il, Figures l and 2, denotes, in its entirety, a framework for supporting a crane I2 which includes the usual beam, or beams, I3 having supporting wheels HI adapted to ride on tracks I5 provided at each end 0f the framework II, the usual motor I6, cable drum Il, cables I8 and I9, cable blocks 2|, and a load carrying hook 22 hung from each block.

One side of the framework II is arranged to overhang a conveyor comprising a framework 23 lsupporting a plurality of rollers 2-4, which rollers may be driven by a chain (not shown) from a suitable source of power (not shown), but in driving engagement with sprockets 25 secured to the shafts 26 of the rollers 24. The other side of the framework `il may overhang a plurality of piles 21 of strip material piled one strip directly upon the other. arranged to lead into, or out of, a rolling mill, or a heat treatment apparatus. such as `an annealing furnace, whereby the strip grip-ping and lifting mechanism of this invention may be used either to remove the strips-28, one at a time, from the piles 2l and place them on the conveyor; or to remove the strips from the conveyor and pile them in piles, or upon trucks (not shown).

The strips of material 26 may be distorted lengthwise as indicated in Figure 5, the extent of such distortion being exaggerated for the purpo:e of illustration, or may be distorted crosswise as indicated in Figure 6. also exaggerated. In both instances it is desirable to simultaneously engage and rmly grip the strip at the distorted point as well as at an undistorted point, so that the strip may be. lifted uniformly along its entire length.

The strip gripping and.' lifting mechanism illus- The conveyor may beV 3 trated in Figures 1 and 2, in association with the framework Il and the crane mechanism I2, is adapted to engage the thin long strip 28 at a plurality of spaced apart points along its side edges. As the strip 28 is relatively long, in this instance, two gripping devices, such as shown in Figures 3 and 4, are required. These strip gripping devices are securely connected together by welding, or otherwise securing, a load bar 29 to a pair of spaced apart supporting plates 3l of each device. The pairs of plates 3| extend above the bar 29 and have a bolt 32 extending between the plates of each pair. Each of the hooks 22 pass between the plates of each pair and supportingly engage the bolt 32 thereat, whereby the load bar 29 and the pairs of plates 3| are supported by, and may be moved with, the crane I2, being raised and lowered by proper manipulation ofthe cables I8 and I9 by means of the motor I6 acting on the drum I1.

The Vpairs of plates 3| also extend below the load bar29 and the plates of each pair are secured together by a cross-bar 33, preferably welded to each. A balancing bar 34 is disposed between the plates of each pair 3| being pivoted thereto by a bolt, or pin, 35 located intermediate the ends of the bar 34. Referring more particularly to Figures 3 and 4, the strip gripping device further includes a pair of stock engaging grabs. Each grab comprises juxtaposed members 33 and 31, each member having a strip edge engaging jaw 38 extending downwardly from its outer end. The members 36 and 31 are slidably supported in a bracket 39 for horizontal movement, and are adapted to be actuated to move the jaws 38 toward and away from each other to grip and release. respectively, a strip 28 disposed therebetween. Y

In this instance, the members 35 and 31 are adapted to be actuated to move horizontally the respective jaws tb ereon by providing ratchet teeth 4I and`42, respectively. upon their upper edges which mesh teeth with gear teeth 43 and 44 respectively, formed on the ends of oppositely directed arms 45 and 46 respectively. 'The arms 45 and 46 are each pivoted. at their toothed ends, to the bracket 39 by pins 41 and 48 respectively, and have their other and outer ends pivoted. by pins 49 and` 5I respectively to the outer ends of the arms 52 and 53 respectively. The inner ends of the arms 52 and 53 are pivoted together and to a shackle 54 by a bolt 55. The shackle 54 straddles the ends of the arms 52 and 53 and extends upwardlyV therefrom in the form of a loop 55 through which a bolt 51 extends which bolt 51 is carried by, and is disposed at. the respective end of the balancing bar 34. lThe bar 34. in this instance. is formed of two spaced apart strips between which the shacke 54 is disposed to be guided in its vertical movements on the bolt 51 to limit transverse movement of the shackle. The .laws 38 are provided with teeth 59 and. with the teeth 58. extend an equal amount below the bracket 39. The looped portion 56. of the shackle 54, is vertically elongated to allow for vertical lost motion when one grab of a pair (see .Figure is required to engage and grip the strip 28 at a level higher than the level to be engaged and gripped by the other grab of this pair.

The jaws V38 of each grab are vertically located, in respect to the edges of the strips 28, by a stop plate 59, which extends along the strip 28, between the jaws 39 and in under and across the bottom of the bracket 39. The stop plate 59 1 5 4 suspended from angle bars 6I and 62, secured, as by welding, two on each side of the bracket 39, by threaded studs 63, two studs being secured, as by welding, to the plate 59 at'each side of the bracket 39. Adjusting nuts 94, two for each stud and disposed one above and one below the respective angle bar 6 I, or 82, are provided whereby the plate 59 may be raised, or lowered, to adjust it, and thus vary the amount the jaws 38 engage the edges of the strip 28, and to compensate for diierent thicknesses of strips. The stop plate 59, when engaging a strip of material which is distorted transversely (see FigureV 6), swings the grab to dispose it in position whereby its jaws will properly grip the strip edges.

As indicated in Figure 5, the balancing bar 34 may pivot on the bolt 35, and each of the grabs may pivot on the bolt 51, thus allowing for differences in level between the points, lengthwise on the strip 28, to be engaged by the different grabs carried by the balancing bar 34. As indicated in Figure- 6, each grab may pivot on the bolt 55 to tilt out of the vertical and thus operatively engage opposite sides of the strip 28 at different levels, when the strip is distorted crosswise thereof. In instances where only relatively short strips are to be engaged and the load bar 29 is omitted, the pivot 35 between the balancing bar 34 and the plate 3l may be omitted, whereby the bar 65, see Figure 7, supporting the grabs,

will pivot directly on the hook 22.

While the mechanism shown in Figures l and 2 is particularly adapted for engaging and lifting a strip 28 which is relatively thin and long, `that is, from A to E, it is obviously adaptable for engaging two strips at a time which strips are of a length from A to B and from C to E. It will also be obvious that by connecting the balancing bar 34 of the right hand device to the load bar 29 by a link bolted to each by bolts extending through openings 1I and 12 respectively, a bar of a length from A to D may be efficiently gripped and lifted.

Each grab is provided with a fully automatic jaw release mechanism whereby a strip will be gripped and released automatically without the operator having to touch the strips, or to release the grab jaws. This mechanism includes a hooked rod 13 swingably carried by the arm 52 and a cam mechanism' enclosed in a box 14 mounted on the bracket. The construction and operation of the automatic jaw release mechanism used with the mechanism of this invention is fully shown and described in Patent No. 2,337,177, issued December 21, 1943. This release mechanism is so constructed that upon alternate downward movements of the grab, the hooked end of the rod 13, upon entering the box 14, is acted upon by suitable catches and cam surfaces disposed therein to alternately catch the hooked end of the rod 13 to hold the grab jaws open, and

l to release the hooked end of the rod 13 to permit the grab jaws to close upon the strips.A This mechanism therefore constitutes the means to cause alternate gripping and release of the strips of material by the grab jaws 38 at alternate downward movements thereof.

The operation of the above described mechanism is as follows, when it is used to engage and lift a strip of material 28 from a pile 21 and move it to a conveyor, or vice versa, the sheets being piled directly one on top of the other with'no spaces therebetween. The crane is moved to dispose the grabs over the strip 28 to be moved. The grabs are then lowered by proper actuation of the motor I5 until all of the stop plates 59 rest upon the strip 28 at which time the jaws 38 of each grab are spread apart in position to be drawn together to grip the strip 28. The stop plates 59,4 having been previously adjusted in respect to the bottom edge of the jaws 38 an amount less than the thickness of the strip 28, prevent the jaws 38 from extending below the uppermost strip upon engagement therewith. Assuming that the strip 28 is distorted lengthwise (Figure 5) and crosswise (Figure 6) at various'points along its length, the grab; at the highest point in the lengthwise distorted part of the strip, will stop sooner than the grab, at a lower point; the balance bar 3ft, by pivoting on the bolt 35, permitting the latter grab continuing into engagement with the strip (see Figure 5) at a lower portion thereof.

At portions of the strip 28 distorted cross-wise thereof the grab thereat will transversely swing upon the pivot bolt 55 permitting the jaws 38 to be properly positioned to grip the strip 28 at this point. Upward movement of the load bar 29, and with it the balance bars 34 and the grabs, will cause the jaws 38 to grip the strip 28 and lift it from the pile, or from the conveyor. While rais ing the strip 2B, the grab jaws 38 at the lowermost point thereof will grip the strip iirst and, after the lost'I motion between the looped end of the shackle and the bolt has been taken up, the jaws of the other grab will tighten on the highest portion of the strip.

The various pivotal points, and the lost motion arrangement between the shackle and its pivot bolt, together with the adjustable grab stop mem` bers included in the mechanism described, provides the means whereby such a mechanism is adapted to eiiiciently grip and raise thin strip material which is distorted either lengthwise, or crosswise, or both, from, or to, a conveyor onto a pile or from a pile, respectively.

It will be understood that the features and principles or this invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit and essential attributes thereof, and it is therefore desired that the present embodiment be considered in all respects as illustrative, and not restrictive. reference being had to the claims rather than to the foregoing description to indicate the scope of the invention.

Having thus fully described the invention, what is claimed as new and for which it is desired to secure Letters Patent is:

1. In a mechanism for gripping and raising thin strip material, a plurality of grabs spaced apart along the length of said strip, each of said grabs having oppositely horizontally movable strip edge engaging jaws, a load bar, means to raise said load bar, a balance bar for each pair of said grabs and being pivoted at its middle to said load bar. each grab being pivoted to its carrying balance bar and being movable vertically in respect thereto.

2. In a mechanism for gripping and raising strip material a plurality of grabs spaced apart along the length of said strip, a load bar, means to raise said load bar. a balance bar for each pair of said grabs and being pivoted at its middle to said load bar, each grab being pivoted to its carrying balance bar and being movable vertically in respect thereto, each of said grabs having oppositely movable strip edge engaging jaws, stop means to engage the strip to limit the amount said jaws extend over the strip edge, and means to adjust said stop means for different thicknesses of strips.

3. In a mechanism for gripping the edges of and lifting thin strip material, a bar composed of spaced apart strips, a pair of grabs, each grab including oppositely and horizontally movable jaws adapted to engage opposite edges of the thin strip of material and means to move the jaws toward each other to grip the thin strip at its edges when the grab is raised, a shackle pivotally secured to each grab, each shackle having a vertically elongated loop portion extending upwardly therefrom and extending in between the spaced apart bar strips, means to pivot the loop portion of one shackle to each end of said bar, and means to pivot the bar at its middle to bar lifting means.

4. In mechanism for gripping the edges of and lifting thin strip material, a bar composed of spaced apart strips, a pair of grabs, each grab including oppositely and horizontally movable jaws adapted to engage opposite edges of the thin strip of material, an adjustable stop device disposed between the jaws of the grab and extending across the strip to dispose the jaws in thin vstrip edge engaging position, and means to move the jaws toward each other to grip the thin strip at its edges when the grab is raised, a shackle pivotally secured to each grab, each shackle` having a vertically elongated loop portion extending upwardly therefrom and extending in between the spaced apart bar strips, means to pivot the loop portion of one shackle to each end of said bar, and means to pivot the bar at its middle to bar lifting means.

5. In mechanism for gripping the edges of and lifting thin strip material a bar composed of spaced apart strips, a pair of grabs, each grab including a horizontal bracket, oppositely and horizontally disposed jaw extensions slidably supported by said bracket, a jaw on each extension adapted to engage opposite edges of a thin strip of material, an adjustable stop member extending across in under said bracket and transversely of the strip between the jaws to dispose the jaws in thin strip edge engaging position when said stop engages the upper surface of the strip, and means to move the jaws toward each other to engage and grip the strip at its edges when the grab is lifted, means to connect one grab to each end of said bar, and means to pivotally connect said bar at its middle to a bar lifting means.

6. In mechanism for gripping the edges of and lifting thin strip material a bar composed of spaced apart strips, a pair of grabs, each grab including a horizontal bracket, oppositely and horizontally disposed jaw extensions slidably supported by said bracket, a jaw on each extension adapted to engage opposite edges of a thin strip of material, an adjustable stop member extending across in under said bracket and transversely of the strip between the jaws to dispose the jaws in thin strip edge engaging position when said stop engages the upper surface of the strip, and means to move the jaws toward each other to engage and grip the strip at its edges when the grab is lifted, a shackle having a vertically elongated loopk portion extending upwardly therefrom and in between the spaced apart bar strips, means to pivot the loop portion of one shackle to each end of said bar, and means to pivotally connect said bar at its middle portion to :a bar lifting means.

7. In mechanism for gripping and raising thin strip material, an elongated bar adapted to extend lengthwise along the strip of material, a plurality of grabs spaced apart along said bar, each of said grabs having oppositely movable strip-side-edge engaging jaws and being movable only crosswise of the strip, means to pivot said bar at its middle portion to load raising means, each grab being pivoted to said bar and movable vertically in respect thereto, stop means to en-V gage the upper surface of the strip of material at each grab to limit the amount the jaws of the grab extend over the strip side edges, and means to adjust said stop means for different thicknesses of strips.

JACK BRESLAV.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

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